PensFanInDC wrote:I think people expect too much from this show. For a mid season finale it was average, I will grant that. It had a ton of action though.

They brought it upon themselves by making it a "midseason finale". I would like it better if it was just another episode and it was on again next week. Last season had a *MUCH* better lead in to the break, even if they did drag that story line out 3 episodes too long for my liking.

I think it's unfortunate that writers still have no idea how to write women, particularly women of color. They are either whiney and subservient, or they are "strong" which means isolated and pissed off at the world.

Watched the mid season finale. Like some have said, I wasn't that impressed, I think I like a few other episodes better this half the season.

But that being said, I think it did a nice job on setting up a good half season in introducing some new characters, putting question marks on some old, and also, shifting the story from the most dangerous things from being walkers to other groups of survivors.

My guess is Rick and crew go back to save Daryl and Meryl (sp?), that is why you see the smoke and the Gov looking around, and why Glenn is mad saying "why did you bring him here". Rick is going to redeem himself from leaving Meryl behind and coming back too late in the first season.

PensFanInDC wrote:I think people expect too much from this show. For a mid season finale it was average, I will grant that. It had a ton of action though.

I think thats my problem with this show; I want it to build and crash like Breaking Bad, but its just not the same show... it also is deviating significantly from the graphic novel, but I guess that's to be expected.

I agree, nocera, I enjoyed the heck out of the episode. I really liked the foreshadowing that the one remaining prisoner is not one they should want to keep around... Andrea is still pissing me off... Michonne taking care of Penny... agree that Daryl must survive. Personally, I really hope Maggie survives, as well, but the atmosphere created where you can never be sure who will live really adds to the show. Very intense.

The Merle as a traitor angle is a ruse to trick Darryl so when Merle and proabbly Andrea help him escape he trusts them enough to where Merle can get intel on the inside since they don't know how many they really have. If Rick has 50 people in his group taking the prison, which the clearly know where it is, will be impossible. if it's just the 10-15 as it is now and Merle can get Darryl away from them the Governor has a better chance to take it.

Rick's leadership looks to be questioned but I think it's more because they don't want him abandoning Carl and Judy again like he did. His decisions don't seem to be causing any rifts so I think it's more to help him be a better father.

We will end the season with the governors forces at the prison walls getting ready for a battle.